Apple releases a new iOS version every year for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch. The public release is usually preceded by about three months of beta testing among developers, but shady UDID registration websites and other loopholes allow for regular users to install the pre-release software too. Then, like clockwork, a portion of those users encounters bugs, end up with a device stuck in recovery mode or simply want to downgrade to the previous iOS version.

First and foremost, we recommend staying away from pre-release software. I can certainly understand the excitement that surrounds updating to the latest iOS version, but betas are designed solely for developers to report bugs and test compatibility with their apps. But regardless of whether you’re an end user, or a registered developer, we’re here to help. Read ahead for step-by-step instructions on how to downgrade from iOS 8 beta to iOS 7.1.1…

Try another firmware file. I had the same problem. If you have GSM, try the Global firmware instead.

Vighnesh Manick

I have an SHSH blob of iOS 7.0.4. Can I downgrade to it?

mlee19841

Nope

Vighnesh Manick

Damn

leart

if you have a iphone 4 in the near future you can do it, ihatesn0w will make an app to downgrade outside itunes, al least he said like this

Fadi Freij

As many of you have downloaded and installed iOS 8 and got excited for all the features that it came with. I did too! Sadly, many apps crashed and battery life sucked on my iPhone 5. But I managed to downgrade to iOS 7.1.1-My advice, wait for future iOS 8 versions, or simply just wait for september so everyone will have the final version without any bugs/problems.

Yes and no… But for people who love the full working experience and no crashes or bugs I indeed recommend to stay on their JB or if already updated to iOS8 , downgradeto 7.1.1 and enjoy their iPhone at its best…

BobDobalina

I’m still trying to do this but every time it gets about part way done and errors out with Error 3194. Very much regretting the iOS8 jump :/

MrDnQ

I loved my JB but decided to go for iOS8 and I must say, I don’t really miss it. Yes I know it’s buggy and resprings sometimes but other than that I’m satisfied. Only hope that Whatsapp will get an update, because this one crashes on me every time someone sends me a long text. but I can live with that. iOS8 rocks, and can/will only get better as time passes. Apple is going into the right direction. 😉

Updated to iOS8 on my 4S only for a couple of hours. Way to unstable and slow at the moment. Hopefuly they can make it a bit faster.

Mozaik

They will , apple has OCD for smoothness.

Dani Dawson

my only concern lol get bewjeled for ios 8 😀

Chris Gilmore

I have my iPad Air running iOS 8 since I regrettably (and can’t even remember why) I got rid of my JB for it a while back. It’s running pretty nicely though! I like being able to use it but still keep my 5s on a jailbreak.

Ishaan Malhotra

I dont have the predective keyboard thing on my i5, ios 8. How to get it?

Jason Whitaker

do you have the ” 🙂 ” icon on the keyboard where you change to Emoji icons? you HOLD there and it should pop up “English, Emoji, Predictive”

Ishaan Malhotra

No smiley face

Jason W

“You will lose your iOS 8 data upon downgrading to iOS 7.1.1. You cannot restore to a backup from iOS 8. You can only restore to an iTunes or iCloud backup from iOS 7.”

**NOT TRUE**

You CAN restore iOS 7.1.1 with an iOS 8 backup (iTunes only). It’s as easy as editing 2 fields in a text file.

1. Locate the backup that you wish to use: “~/Library/Application Support/MobileSync/Backup” …The backups are sorted by UDID and Timestamp.

2. Open the “info.plist” file with TextEdit.

3. You will be changing 2 string fields: the “Build Version” and “Product Version”.

(example: 8.0 (beta 1) build is 12A4265u. The first key in the text file is “Build Version” and directly below is the string “12A4265u” you will change that to “11D201” (build for 7.1.1). Next SEARCH for “Product Version” (it is located deep in the file after the installed Apps) and change the string from “8.0” to “7.1.1”.

4. Choose “File” and “Save”.
5. Exit TextEdit
6. Open iTunes and “Restore from Backup” choosing the backup that you just edited.

DONE.

@jw154j

leart

yeah correct i have back up files from 2 years ago

Twyler

This did not work for me. Says “iTunes could not restore the iPhone because the backup was corrupt or not compatible with the iPhone that is being restored.

Michael Anthony Fontanez

Actually just put the phone in DFU mode and just press restore and wait, it’ll start to restore and boom you’re back on 7.1.1.

BB BB

iOS 8 is buggy as heck. Settings would crash every time iOpened it. Performed a Reset All Settings and my phone never restarted after that not to mention getting handoff / continuity to work with 10.10 was a no go while it was working. Restoring to 7.1.1 and will wait for a future release unless I need to test out something specific it will be wise advice to wait for a future release.

It is important to note that once you have backdated to 7.1.1 you can
only restore a back up that was made when the phone was running 7. If
you only have a back up of the phone when it was running 8 you will not
be able to restore to the back up once you’re back running 7.

Martynet

why downloading and selecting the ROM manually? Just connect your phone to iTunes in DFU mode and hit restore 🙂
I also got a nice surprise after restoring… both – iOS8 and iOS7 backups were in the icloud, so I could easily restore my complete setting for iOS7 no problem.

Rom3

That advice is for people that don’t have the 7.1.1 Ipsw for those that don’t have it they will have to download and extract the 7.1.1 software beforenbeing able to downgrade.

Martynet

I still don’t understand. iTunes will download that file automatically… I restored my iPhone from beta 8.0 to 7.11 yesterday and iTunes took care of everything. All I had to do was put the iphone in DFU mode.

Arjun Chavda

how itune would understand that we wants to downgrade our device?who knows if it will just reset our device ?

Dor Barhoom

I’m with the iPhone 5S and every time it reaches 15% in restore write me Error 14 on iTunes. What to do?

Nala

When you use iOS 8 and downgrade do you still keep all your data?

DR234

If you restored to a previous backup of 7.1.1 you made before the upgrade then yes you’ll keep all that data but if you did anything new on your phone on iOS 8 send yourself an email with all of it or something because you can regain all of the iOS 8 backup once you’re on iOS 7.1.1 again.

Alex-V

new in IOS 8 …

Match is now really streaming…no automatic downloads ( to store on phone simple click on download button)…and you can delete each track also under settings instead of simple all…

i like

Jose Rivera

Or you can just do a “Check for update” instead of restoring so you don’t lose your app data… I did it!

Mike Castillo

Selling UDID activations for $5! Email your UDID to me at mierd@live.com OR iMessage me at the same email!

GET IOS 8 BETA 1 NOW!

FAST ACTIVATION LESS THAN 15 MINUTES!

PayPal is accepted only!!!!!

Anthony Snyder

The first download (from the dev site, not iDB) says it was ineligible and now i’m trying the one from iTunes. Unfortunately, my computer keeps sleeping, or something and iTunes RESTARTS the 5 hour download…. 4th times the charm….

AceNeerav

the device isn’t for the request build! HELP!

Scotty Fister

Trying to restore from the IPSW didn’t work for me. I put it in recovery mode and connected it, then just pressed ‘Restore iPhone’. As the latest public release of iOS is 7.1.1 it has restored to that.

Sumit Singh

This isn’t working itunes give an error message after Clicking restore button
The Error message is-
“The iPhone could not be restored because the firmware file is not compatible”

RenewableGuy

Don’t use IOS8. Txt app does not work on my 4s

Ishaan Malhotra

error 14!!

Mike Colacone Saal

you guys should fix the “there is no jailbreak for 7.1.1” statement, since people will be going to the post a lot over the summer I’m sure. 🙂

ryan

Ok here’s the simpler way. (make sir you have a backup saved on iOS 7 or else this won’t work…iTunes stores all of your backups by date, so choose a backup at a time that your phone was on iOS 7!!!) While running iOS 8 beta, connect your iPhone to iTunes. Put your phone in DFU mode (hold the power button/home button for 10 seconds, then let go of the power button and continue to hold the home button for another 10 seconds. Restore your phone and done. iTunes does not store betas as the restore software, many people don’t know this. It is unessearry to have to download the iOS 7 psw from this site.

Saved0ne

Anyone know if you can restore from an iOS 8 Beta 2 backup if I upgrade back to iOS 8 (saying my Jailbreak doesn’t work or do what I want it to do?)

joshua geiger

i have had the beta 2 iOS 8 ITS HORRIBLE!!!!! no matter if you restore your phone because icloud has backed up icloud says iOS 8 is the latest update! so you have to redownload 7.1.2 or any iOS 7! so don’t get the beta!

Yunik

can’t if says corrupted

nukemaster4652

will it lose all the data

goose

when i restore to 7.1.1, the phone finished the prcoess but it stays on ios 8? is it because my itunes isn’t the latest software? 11.22?

Lavan Kumar Goud

can i downgrade my ios 7.1.2 to 7.0.4 -Iphone 5S

Dani Dawson

Won’t let me downgrade… i tried to do the backup and it seems the backup i had is gone and now the only one is after i got ios 8… i’m stuck without bejeweled and stuff x_x

stephy

this actually doesn’t work, the file you have to download for the ios7 isn’t even compatible with iTunes, so when you try to restore it, you can’t even reach the file you saved BIG waste of time. took 2 hours to download and save file, then it didn’t work.

Виталий Иванович

Take note that certain browsers may change the ipsw-file into a zip-file. If this should occur, just rename it to end in .ipsw and iTunes will recognize it.

jtswife

didnt work, did it twice

Kevin Steitz

I just downloaded iOS 8.0 upgrade. Did I screwup?

user1232140328

I upgraded iOS 8.0.2 and my iPhone 5 restart itself like every 10 seconds and the battery stuck and drain so fast. Such a disappointing.